From Underdog to Superstar: Prashant Veer’s IPL Triumph with Chennai Super Kings

The term ‘whirlwind’ is often used to describe a hectic situation or period, and the past 30 days in the career of young all-rounder Prashant Veer perfectly embody this.

Veer, a cricketer from Uttar Pradesh (UP), has been traveling between Kolkata and Mumbai to participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Men’s Under-23 State A Trophy Elite. He managed to compete in seven matches over eight days, scoring a total of 229 runs and taking 15 wickets across both tournaments.

On the evening of December 16, Veer’s career hit a high note when he was acquired by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for an astonishing Rs. 14.2 crore during the IPL mini auction. This moment of triumph came as the UP team was traveling by bus, and Veer was captured on video saying, “Mazaa aa raha hai bhaiya” (I’m having fun, brother), with a shy smile. The video was shared by S&C trainer Israr Azeem.

A week later, Veer made his List A debut for his state in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26, taking three wickets for 47 runs to help secure an 84-run victory. His batting abilities were also on display with a boundary that took his score to seven off four balls.

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The journey begins

Veer’s love for cricket began with tennis ball games in Shahjipur, near Amethi. What started as a pastime eventually evolved into a promising career. He moved from playing at the Ambedkar Stadium in Amethi to joining the UP government’s cricket hostel in Mainpuri and then enrolled in Rajiv Goyal’s cricket academy in Saharanpur to follow his dreams. Persistence through multiple failed trials at the U-12, U-14, and U-16 levels finally paid off when he represented the state in the U-19 category.

“Log achche milte chale gaye, isliye ye sab ho paya (I met a lot of good people. That’s why all this became possible),” Veer told Sportstar, acknowledging the support from coach Goyal and Akram Saifi, director of the Saharanpur District Cricket Association.

“I am also very blessed that my family never stopped me from anything. ‘Jo karo mann se karo (Whatever you do, put your heart into it),’ they advised,” he added.

Spotlight achievements

Veer first rose to prominence in 2025 while playing for Noida Super Kings in the UPT20 league, where he scored 320 runs with a striking rate of 155.34 and took eight wickets with his slow left-arm spin. His outstanding performance earned him the Emerging Player award in the league.

He followed up with a stellar performance in the domestic U-23 One-Day competition, scoring 376 runs in seven innings at an average of 94 and a strike rate of 128.76, and emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets at 18.77, leading UP to the final.

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Expected to attract attention at the IPL auction, Veer unexpectedly joined CSK, the five-time IPL champion, becoming one of the most expensive uncapped recruits ever.

“It felt great. It was quite unexpected for me. But what is done is done. My focus should be on the game and how to help the team win matches. They have shown trust, and I must live up to it,” Veer said.

Joining CSK, Veer steps into the shoes of franchise legend Ravindra Jadeja, now with Rajasthan Royals, whose remarkable record includes 2354 runs and 152 wickets. Veer plans to focus on giving his best rather than dwelling on comparisons. “If I think of these things, I feel I might lag. I will give my best,” he explained.

Though the significant payday could be daunting, senior UP players like Rinku Singh and Dhruv Jurel have supported him, advising not to focus on the money aspect. Veer is still honing his skills to meet the demands of elite cricket, and guidance from CSK’s seasoned coaching team, especially M.S. Dhoni, could pave the way for his success.

Published on Dec 25, 2025